You don’t need a huge frame or body to be a good squash player in the world. Most of the world champions are from Asia who are medium in structure. All that is needed is good coaching, fitness and mental strength to become a champion squash player.
But parents of squash players are lamenting that nothing is done to popularize, encourage and develop the game by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation. They hardly conduct tournaments that will encourage a player to pursue with the sport. The players often give up due to lack of competitions.
There was an instance when parents got together and conducted a tournament this year. They named it the Guardian Open Tournament where the parents collected money to give away as prize money to the winners.
These officials of the Squash Federation were elected in 2014 and up to July 2018 they have conducted only 18 tournaments including the senior and junior nationals. This is only about five tournaments per year. Earlier, the federation used to conduct between eight to ten tournaments per year. Now there is a downward trend in competitions and players are opting to give up the sport.
In 2005 between 400 to 450 players entered to participate in tournaments. These days there is a drastic drop in the entries. Massive fees are charged from each player to take part as they are hungry to display their talents and emerge victorious.
“The Federation should be able to conduct tournaments with the entry fees collected from players alone”, said one of the parents.
Sri Lanka is ranked among the first eight in Asia and only four players were sent to the Asian Games. Besides, the federation had entered the players for the individual event only and failed to enter for the team event.
The players didn’t know that they were to contest the Asian Games until four days before the opening ceremony. The players had played only one match each at the Games and left the village. Had the federation entered for the team event then each player would have played at least five matches. This shallow thinking by the officials of the federation only leaves the sport in despair and a colossal waste of money having sent these players.
Later, the federation failed to pick a team for the Asian tournament to be held in Chennai following the Asian Games. The Sri Lanka Squash Federation had asked for security for the players which was not agreed to by the organizers.
The Federation had then told the parents that only four of the best players can enter the tournament. However, the parents conducted their own trials and picked 32 players to go for the tournament in Chennai. These players were from different age categories and it was a happy occasion for the parents.
Naturally, the parents will be acrimonious about the situation for the attitude by the Squash Federation. They are spending a lot of money on coaches fees, special diets and much time is spent on travelling and training. How can a player benefit from squash when there are no competitions in their own country is the question asked.
Even when the federation conducts a tournament there are only about 300 entries. This is a drastic drop in entries which goes to show that interest in the game is dropping and if this trend continues the controlling body will not have any players for their tournaments.
This situation is something for the Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha to investigate and correct the situation.
The Sri Lanka Squash Federation has the right to defend themselves and their actions.